I concur with the emergency descent theory. I had it happen to me on a Canadian Airlines 737 (Spirit of Resolute) flying YUL-MCO with my brother in the early nineties.

Plane started descending very fast, masks came down, but I figured that the descent was controlled, so the crew up front had the situation under control. Landed in Charlottesville WV, wanted a drink, but it was in a dry county!

Found out that the cockpit windshield cracked, so the SOP is to get the plane down as fast as possible.

I am a plane freak, so I kind of enjoyed the ride down, but my brother, who was squeamish about flying before has never set foot on a plane again.



[This message has been edited by newbie elite (edited Dec 06, 2003).]